The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-26
1900 PASSENGERS SAVED
BY MIRACLE FROM A WATERY
GRAVE.
The Steamer ScotiA's Machinery
Breaks Down and She Is
Run Ashore.

sea was running 20 high that II was
impossible to launch l.feboat, bat at
5 o'clock q line was got aboard the
steamer. Before the breeches buoy
was rugged the sea had gone down sui
fciently to allow OF the launching OF
boat, which went alongside. No one
was taken off except a steeIage pas
seDger named Farina, who jumped |
from the steamers deck to The boat |
before anyone could prevent him. |
Farina was brought ashore and will go |
TO New York this afternoon. He states
that the steamer had experienced
terrific storms for more than
a week, the vessel tossicg terribly
and suffering much damage. Many OF
the passengers had limbs broken and
received other injuries by being
thrown about the eteerage. Yesterday
the machinery gave out and the wind
ard tea were high. TIE cal tain de-
cided 10 run the vessel ashore after
cutting away her masts at 2 O'Clock
this morning. About 500 women are
among the passengers, most OF whom
were taken from the stesmer Blu gun
dia after that vessel was run into by
the war vessel Italia, near Naples. 1t
is not probable that any more passen-
gers will be landed. The steamer is
in no immediate danger, and tugs hsve
been teleRraphed for from New York
to take the passengers by water. The
cargo, which consists chiefly OF oranges,
is rot badly injured.
II was exceedingly fortunate the
stranded seamer Scotia, now lying
with h or nose deep in the outer bay
of Blue Point life saving station, that
| tbs high wind and heavy sea which
prevailed when she was run ashore
subsidized 80 OPPORTUNITY this morning.
Otherwise, instead OF being In condi-
ton 10 still offer shelter and accom-
mediation to the 1900 souls aboard Of
her, she would probably be breaking
up, and her living freight, if all were
saved to reach the beach, would be
exposed to the meIciless winds and
with shorter rations than have been
their portion for twenty days past. At
daylight, when Capt, Jones and his
crew OF life vera attempted to throw
line to the vessel, and later when an
effort was made to launch a lifeboat
to reach her, the surf rolled mount
aims high and the wind blew a
hurricane. Within two hours q
moderate breeze and quieter
sea permitted the launching Of the
sApat and an approach to the
Steamer. The vessel lies with her nose
deep In the sand, headed northeast.
Her appearance gives unmistakable
evidence OF hard usage by the waves
and the absence of masts and rigging,
together with the general disorder Of
, her deck makes her most distressing
object, while the poor foreigners who
crowd her decks gazing longinRly In
/ the midst OF Their excitement at tbt
land so near and yet so far, reste feel
Jugs OF commiseration in the hearts o.
the hundreds OF men who have
swarmed to the beach from all point!
along the mainland, Through surf
man, who visited the Scotia In the lift
boat and conveIsed with one of thu
steamers crew, who spoke O little
Enslish, it was learned the statement
, of the passenger Farina, who succeed
, ed in getting ashore In the first boa
} which reached tire vessel, as Il
, the terrible storms experienced
r and the sufierings of the passenger
8 were not overdrawn. For nearl,
!. twenty days the steamer met serie
3 of storms, the waves dashin
3 over the deck like huge mountain
3 aud st tmss threatening to entirel
: submergs her. During most OF tn
I. time it was necessary to keep th
y poor emigrGnts packed like sardine
. in the steer8ge, where they were sui
8 ieCted to indescribable sutferings, bt
@ ing thrown from eide to eide OF tn
0 vessel, pitched from their berths au
y sustaining more or less serious bruise
!, or fractures Of their bodies and limb
T. Several men and women had thei
Il arms and legs broken, while the chic
/ rem, many OF them, arc black an
l. blue from frequent contact with th
2 poets and beams. The machinery
l. the steamer had been OF little use fc
n nearly a week, and the fact OF the ve
l. sci having run ashore with her hea
D. north west, directly opposite to hi
,s proper c ,urse, would indicate that sh
d had been tossing about with but sligt
.. control. Capt. Ruffat behaved nobl!
v remaining almost continually o
r the bridge during the week. Ye
n terday the lead was thrown frequentl,
II and last night wheu the soundlngs Il
x dicated proximity 10 the beach an
,r the storm not abating, while the We
10 sci strained and tossed, he decided
a. beach her, and in order to keep hi
as more steady he ordered the Cuttin
L away of the maste. When she struC
the beach and the tremor and awaken
n, ing thud OF the shock was felt by II
N pass myers scene OF inexpressib
a, excitement prevailed. Women an
ia children eel O AIMED and prayed alou
Il, while stalwart men ran about shou
10 ing and gestculating wildly. 1t WI
" hardly daybreak when the wees
y. grounded, and those on board couI
n not distinguish the land ahead, and
ia was not until the life saving ere
=, reached the ship that the captal
W" knew Just where he was. Capt. Bisl
IT. op, the Merritt Wrecking Company
10 agent, arrived on the beach about
~, o'clock, and Immediately took char
n. of the opera ions for saving the vess
IL and made ready for tugs expectt
,is from New York. After inspecting Il
y. vessel Capt. Bishop said he thougI
be she would be got of all right al
,ts her cargo be saved.
by At 8 O'Clock tonight the Scotia W
he lying easy, in about two fathoms
If, water, 200 feet from shore, and "
a working In through the pounding
TO- the rising tide. 1t has been impc
q sible as yet TO obtain any stateme
". from the captain or officers. The Ii
saving crew, with their life boat, ha
. succeeded in landing 100 passenge
Ill on the beach; but ate in the ats
II, noon orders were received from Ne
ny York TO keep the passengers aboa
CHI until the arrival Of bargss, which h
by been dispatched during the day. n
ot' passengers are very anxious TO 8
ats ashore, as they complain OF the trei
OF ment acc rled them by the capita
Se- and officers, saying that they have b
scarcely any food for some time pa